OTC: Scott Pioli Fired / Andy Reid Hired / Kansas State Tired

“You heard it here first on 810 WHB, Scott Pioli is out!”Steven St. John, who then played Celebrate Good Times Come On as they went to break, 810 AMGH: I actually “heard” it first in a text from a friend. For some reason the media continues to want to tell us they were the source of breaking news. With Twitter and other social media outlets, our sources aren’t all that much different from theirs.

“I would like to thank Norma, Clark and the Hunt family for the opportunity that they gave me four years ago. I’d also like to thank the players, coaches, scouts and countless other employees, throughout the organization and at Arrowhead Stadium that have worked so hard during my time here. I would also like to genuinely thank Chiefs fans. The bottom line is that I did not accomplish all of what I set out to do. To the Hunt family — to the great fans of the Kansas City Chiefs — to the players, all employees and alumni, I truly apologize for not getting the job done.”Scott Pioli, on his resignation as the Chiefs’ GM, ESPN.comGH: The Hunt family is long on ceremony and doing what is proper in the public eye. They remind me in that regard of Great Britain’s Royal Family. Clark can’t just fire an employee like Pioli whose job performance the past four years had reduced the Chiefs’ franchise to rubble. I do not understand this polite charade that no one behind or in front of closed doors believes. Read on.

“After several productive conversations, we made the difficult decision to part ways with Scott Pioli and allow him to pursue other opportunities.”Clark Hunt, in a Chiefs press release on Friday morningGH: I just love this wording. “After several productive conversations?” With who, Andy Reid?

“Scott has been an invaluable member of the Chiefs family since joining us in 2009, and we sincerely appreciate his tremendous contributions over the last four years.”Clark Hunt, in a Chiefs press release on Friday morningGH: Which is why Clark hung his “invaluable” GM out to dry with his previous press release that gutted Pioli of all of his power and made it clear he would be hiring the Chiefs’ next head coach. Pioli proved to be incompetent and his four-year administration set the Chiefs back to square one. Tremendous.

“I know that this was a difficult decision for Scott as well. He has a great deal of appreciation for the history of this franchise, for our players, coaches and employees, and especially our great fans.”Clark Hunt, in a Chiefs press release on Friday morningGH: Huh? Difficult decision? Like Pioli had an option here? Do these suits have so little respect for their fans than to float this flotsam? You can bet Pioli loved those Chiefs fans – or as he knows them, Men in Black.

“Andy Reid has reached an agreement to become the next coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, according to league sources. The contract is now being reviewed by attorneys and is expected to be finalized Friday.”Chris Mortensen, ESPN.comGH: After Reid was all but signed, sealed and walrus-ed to Arizona a few days ago, it is now all but certain he is Kansas City bound. Let the discussion begin.

“I don’t dislike this hire, I don’t like this hire. I’m very neutral on this hire.”Bob Fescoe, 610 AMGH: A radio sports talk show host can be a lot of things. Neutral on the local NFL team’s head coaching hire is not one of them.

“All it cost us was four days of angst. I think Clark Hunt’s approval rating today should be at the highest it’s been.”Danny Parkins, 610 AMGH: Approval ratings move up and down quicker than a pole dancer at Atlanta’s Magic City. Hunt was Clark Kent on Monday. He is Superman on Friday. Let’s hope he remembers to wear his tights come draft day.

“[Pioli] should have been gone from day one. The fact he thought Scott Pioli was a viable backup plan is a problem to me.”Carrington Harrison, 610 AMGH: Clark is not a savvy NFL owner. He went and hired Reid, a 14-year NFL head coach with almost impeccable credentials. This is the no-brianer, hard-to-argue-with pick. Sure, some will find fault but hiring Reid is the safe pick. It’s what you expect from a conservative non-risk taker like Clark. If Reid fails, much like his Pioli hire – we will all say it looked good at the time.

“I think he made the decisions he had to make when you go 2-14. I’m not going to give him credit for firing everybody.”Soren Petro, after a caller called Clark Hunt, “a great owner” for his moves this week, 810 AMGH: Great owners don’t get their franchise mired in the depths of the worst decade in their history. Clark still has much to prove. Much.

“I don’t like people in the media who are crushing this [Andy Reid] hire without context. You cannot say this is not a big step forward.”Danny Parkins, 610 AMGH: I haven’t heard a lot of people in the media “crushing” the Reid hire. Sure, there is some differing of opinions out there, but why would Parkins care that someone has another opinion than his?

“I trust Andy Reid with my quarterback, that’s why I give it an ‘A.’”Carrington Harrison, 610 AMGH: I am guessing [hoping?] that 8.5 hours of that nine-hour Andy Reid interview involved this question – How are you going to fix our quarterback situation?”

“I think it’s a great hire. I think it’s a great move. I think you’re getting someone special. He’s done a lot with a little. You will win and you will win quick. I think you’re getting as good a one as you can get. I just love him as a man, too. I’ve known him for almost 30 years.”Sean Salisbury, 810 AMGH: Salisbury appears a bit too close to Reid to give a valuable opinion on this hire. I typically enjoy his edgy opinions but when it comes to Reid, he appears to be all gushy and goofy.

“I wouldn’t even pack. I’m there in Kansas City.”Sean Salisbury, when asked if he would be interested in being a member of Andy Reid’s staff in Kansas City, 810 AM

“I think the guy [Reid] had a devastating year of personal & professional setbacks. He’s Philly’s Marty. There’s still hunt in the dog.”Chris Stigall, @ChrisStigall, former KCMO morning talk show host and current conservative talk show host on Philadelphia’s 1210 AM, TwitterGH: I asked Stigall for his opinion on Reid and he responded with the above tweet. I question whether or not Reid has the drive and stamina to do what needs to be done with the Chiefs. I liked Stigall’s last line. If there truly is “still hunt in the dog,” Reid will find he has chosen a hunter’s oasis at One Arrowhead Drive.

“Go.”Dick Vermeil, when asked by Andy Reid what he would advise about his chance to coach the Chiefs, Kansas City StarGH: Randy Covitz’s story in the Kansas City Star covered how Reid sought the counsel of Vermeil, the former Eagles’ and Chiefs’ head coach. Interesting that Reid, along with Vermeil and Herm Edwards, will be the Chiefs third head coach with strong Philadelphia Eagles ties.

“Is Bill Snyder still the greatest college football coach ever or can we only talk about that after big wins?”Carrington Harrison, @cdotharrison, after Oregon handled K-State 35-17 in the Fiesta Bowl, TwitterGH: My simple answer to CDot’s query is, “Yes.” What Bill Snyder has now done not once but twice in the middle of nowhere [and yes, Manhattan, Lincoln, Columbia and Lawrence are just that] is in Gary Pinkel-ese, remarkable. I believe Oregon is one of the greatest teams in college history. Yeah, they lost in OT to Stanford but I don’t care. They are solid in every phase and can play with any college team I’ve ever watched play. So is losing to the Ducks a disgrace and an indictment on Snyder’s legacy? Not where I live.

“What a disappointment Kansas St is…they can’t even line up quickly and run a play down 2 TDs in 4th…much less throw it down the field.”Michael Wilbon, @RealMikeWilbon, TwitterGH: K-State’s inability to play hurry-up offense was upsetting. I am always perplexed when I am in more of a hurry to huddle from my couch than the players who are two scores behind.

“De Thomas ran the last 40 yards of his kick return TD last night in 3.9 seconds. Stupid fast.”Elliot Metz, @thatelliotmetz, TwitterGH: This dude doesn’t look human. He looked like Mike Vick at Va Tech – only quicker. Loved how he hit the goal line after his KO return with a sprinter’s lean – Pre Lives!

“I wasn’t even aware a 1-point safety existed in football. It happened in the Oregon/Kansas State game.”Jason McIntyre, @TheBigLead, TwitterGH: I will be 60 in a couple of years. I have played, watched and listened to more football over my years than any human should be subjected to. Never even knew that was a thing. Seems they could come up with a better name than “one-point safety.” How about we call it a “Gipper?” The hand signal could be Reagan-esque, with the official placing his thumbs in his ears and wiggling his fingers.

“I do have friends who live in Western Ks and say KSU fans are VERY hard to live with, so I guess I could understand them wanting a KSU loss.”Gary Bedore, @GaryBedore, TwitterGH: The state of Kansas has about the same population as Chicago. But in this small, parsley populated Midwestern state; we can find enough differences to root like hell for anything good to happen to the school down the road. You gotta love the wide, wide world of sports.

“The only thing worse than the call was Tad Boyle’s suggestion to @AndyKatzESPN to get rid of replay. Would he say that if call went his way?”Seth Davis, @SethDavisHoops, on the controversial call by the referees in the Colorado/Arizona basketball game that waved off the desperation three-point shot at the buzzer, TwitterGH: If it takes that long to determine whether or not a desperation shot at the buzzer was launched in time, I say give the shooter the benefit of the doubt. And by the way – I LOVE replay. I would like to get replay instituted into business, marriage and my dining experiences.

“Starting next school year, all Rockhurst High School students will be subject to mandatory and random drug tests, the school announced today. The private Catholic High School says their goal is a ‘student body free of drugs and alcohol.’ ”KMBZ.comGH: Rockhurst High has a lot of detractors. I am not of the belief that a faith-based high school is any better than the godless place where we send our kids. But I like that Rockhurst does what they feel is right and to hell [maybe literally] with those who disagree. And there will be many who do. It is what makes life interesting.

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About Greg Hall

Software guy who has been writing my Off The Couch column in KC newspapers, publications and websites since 1994. Has been bounced from some of the finest media establishments this side of State Line Road. Dad first and everything else second...and there are a lot of everything elses.

WTF does that have to do with anything? Of course, if the Big 12 loses another team, you could have 100% make a bowl. Congratulations. Sheesh. Besides. the comment was more about utter FAIL of the B1G.